[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 8, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H1017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PAYING TRIBUTE TO GARRET AUGUSTUS MORGAN, BESSIE COLEMAN, ARCOLA 
                    PHILPOTT, AND BENJAMIN BANNEKER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. PLASKETT. Madam Speaker, in the past several months, Democrats 
have advanced the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, along with, 
most recently, the COMPETES Act, which will increase American 
innovation, start making more critical products in America, and 
turbocharge American scientific and technological leadership.
  With those bills in mind, I thought it was particularly important 
during Black History Month to pay special tribute to four bold, 
brilliant, and Black minds who have contributed in various ways through 
their inventions to innovation and to infrastructure in America.
  First, let's meet the ``Father of Transportation Technology,'' better 
known as Garret Augustus Morgan. Born in Paris, Kentucky, and later 
moved to Ohio, Morgan was a Black American inventor. Witnessing a fatal 
car crash was essentially the catalyst in Morgan's invention of the 
three-position traffic signal, which is the predecessor to the modern-
day traffic light. Though the stop-and-go signals had already existed, 
Morgan advanced the invention to include a third position that stopped 
traffic in both directions and allowed pedestrians to safely cross the 
road. Talented as he was, Morgan's other inventions included a version 
of the gas mask, grooming products, sewing machines, and much more.
  Madam Speaker, a second inspiration was a Black American, better 
known as ``Brave Bessie,'' and to others as ``Queen Bess.'' The sky was 
anything but the limit to this Texas native, Bessie Coleman. Fueled by 
rejections and constant noes, Coleman's determination and diligence 
allowed her to soar as she was accepted into the Caudron Brothers' 
School of Aviation in France, and earned her international pilot's 
license on June 15, 1921.
  Becoming the first African-American woman pilot in 1922, Coleman was 
best known for performing tricks in the air in both the United States 
and Europe. She passionately encouraged other women to learn to fly, 
both figuratively and literally, by touring the country, giving 
lectures, teaching flight lessons, and performing flight exhibitions.
  A real go-getter was Arcola Philpott, who earned her place in 
transportation history in 1944 when the Los Angeles Railway hired 
Philpott to be the first Black woman streetcar operator. Philpott 
opened the door for both women and African Americans to operate 
streetcars in Los Angeles. Just weeks after hiring her, Los Angeles 
Railway hired its first Black motorman. Philpott's time as the first 
Black and streetcar operator represents just a small portion of the 
impact she had.
  Originally from Chicago, she graduated from Loyola University with a 
degree in social science and performed welfare work prior to moving to 
Los Angeles. When she returned to Chicago, she worked as a nurse and a 
researcher at the University of Chicago's history department.
  And finally, Benjamin Banneker, the Black architect who helped design 
the capital city. Banneker was hired by the first President, George 
Washington, and came highly recommended by Thomas Jefferson. He 
designed the layout of Washington, D.C.'s, streets, parks, major 
buildings in two days. Known for many well-deserved accomplishments and 
contributions through his lifetime, he later became a reputable 
architect, mathematician, engineer, and even an astronomer.
  Black people should be proud of their heritage, and all Americans 
should celebrate the achievements of Black Americans. Infrastructure 
within the United States would look incredibly different without the 
inventions, achievements, and innovations of these Black minds. It is 
important to document and share stories of lesser-known historical 
figures who also contributed their greatest efforts. Happy Black 
History Month.

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